Connecticut voters give Gov. Dannel Malloy a negative 38 - 44 percent approval rating,
apparently driven by 43 percent who are "dissatisfied" with the new state budget and another 16
percent who are "angry" with the budget, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released
today. Only 36 percent described themselves as "enthusiastic" or "satisfied" with the budget.

Today's results compare with a negative 35 - 40 percent approval rating for Gov. Malloy
in a March 9 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll.

While voters dislike Malloy's policies 50 - 37 percent, they like him as a person 48 - 18
percent. Jodi Rell was a better governor, 32 percent say, while 20 percent say Malloy is better and
37 percent say they are about the same.

Voters disapprove 52 - 36 percent of the way Malloy is handling the state budget. Voters
also disapprove 50 - 35 percent of the new state budget.

Only 17 percent of voters say the new state budget spreads tax increases fairly across
income groups while 67 percent say taxes should be higher on those with higher incomes.

"Gov. Dannel Malloy should be doing better in a blue state like Connecticut, but he gets
only a 52 percent approval rating among his base of Democrats," said Quinnipiac University Poll
Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

"His low approval rating is a reflection of how voters feel about his budget. Many voters
are dissatisfied and some even say they are angry. They think the budget relies too much on tax
increases and not enough on spending cuts. They also think the middle class is paying more than
its fair share while those with higher incomes aren't paying their fair share."

"Gov. Malloy might be jealous of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's high 61 percent job
approval rating, but Cuomo is the exception. Malloy can take some solace from the fact that
other new governors who also are dealing with big budget deficits have similar low job approval
ratings," Dr. Schwartz added.

Connecticut state employees are making less than their fair share of sacrifices under the
new budget, 36 percent of voters say, while 21 percent say workers are doing more than their fair
share and 35 percent say they are doing about their fair share.

Public employee wages and benefits are too high, 46 percent of voters say, with 8 percent
saying too low and 39 percent saying wages and benefits are about right.

Connecticut voters approve 53 - 44 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing,
up slightly from 49 - 47 percent in a March 8, 2011, Quinnipiac University poll. President
Obama deserves reelection, voters say 51 - 43 percent, and they would vote for Obama 46 - 35
percent over an unnamed Republican in 2012.

Connecticut voters support 72 - 25 percent a new law that requires large companies to
offer five days of paid sick leave per year to employees. Support is 84 - 14 percent among
Democrats, 50 - 44 percent among Republicans and 72 - 26 percent among independent voters.
Men support the measure 63 - 34 percent while women back it 79 - 17 percent.

Voters also support 66 - 31 percent a law to de-criminalize possession of small amounts
of marijuana. Support is 77 - 21 percent among Democrats, 49 - 45 percent among Republicans
and 66 - 31 percent among independent voters. Support is slightly stronger among men, 69 - 28
percent, than among women, 64 - 33 percent.

From June 8 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,311 registered voters with a margin
of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201,
or follow us on Twitter.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as
Governor?

7. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President...
If the 2012 election for President were being held today, do you think you would
vote for Barack Obama the Democratic candidate, or for the Republican candidate?

20. I am going to mention four phrases and ask you which one best describes how
you feel about the new state budget. Do you feel - enthusiastic, satisfied but
not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?

22. Do you think the new state budget spreads the tax increases fairly among
different income groups or do you think that there should have been bigger tax
increases for those with higher incomes and smaller tax increases for the middle
class?

23. To help eliminate the budget deficit, do you think the new state budget has
the middle class making financial sacrifices that are more than their fair share
less than their fair share, or about their fair share?

24. To help eliminate the budget deficit, do you think the new state budget has
those with higher incomes making financial sacrifices that are more than their
fair share, less than their fair share, or about their fair share?

25. To help eliminate the budget deficit, do you think the new state budget has
state public employees making financial sacrifices that are more than their fair
share, less than their fair share, or about their fair share?

31. As you may know, Connecticut will have a new law that decriminalizes
possession of small amounts of marijuana. Low-level marijuana users would be
punished with a fine, instead of a criminal charge. Do you support or oppose
this new law?